ACROSS
1 Hero worships and aimlessly liaises around with Modi (8)
6 Liberal on the take, by the look of it (4-6)
13 Tip to boost climax (5)
14 Patties cooked with key element to make a meal (9)
15 Serve contents in empty nectarine bottle (5)
16 Assistant loudly scratches - when he is itching perhaps (11,6)
18 Slipper, perhaps (3)
19 What would a chateau in interior Russia be called? (5)
21 Change diet after starting to fart foul (5)
23 Surprisingly, Viagra's withdrawn from the East... it may be poison (3)
25 Sanctuary for love in the current circumstances (5)
27 Desire. A hollow desire to have two characters back-to-back in a series? (9)
29 Stick over face (3)
30 What those on their knees perhaps become after being socially uplifted? (7)
31 Morning, I thank you for your friendship (5)
32 Unmoved by a note (from French originally) (4)
33 We're leaving jeweller's flawed set (4)
35 Provided relief from nude ladies dancing around leading Democrat (5)
38 Introduce power over grant (7)
39 Meddle with odd party pieces (3)
40 In the main, they still loaf around (9)
42 Storm and shine alternately bounce back, say (5)
43 Alcoholic drink, not hard (3)
44 Hurry when trapped in the wild (5)
46 Dirty fly , fat black and nasty in the middle of the nose (5)
47 You and I’ve, alternatively taken a turn! (3)
49 Places an order for trimmed suit - it's on sale isnt it? (17)
54 Cover story provided by individual after jumping bail (5)
55 Elizabeth takes a short nap in the middle of Shakespeare's repeated run of tempest, perhaps (9)
56 Older Monk (5)
57 Outlet where my mobile phone's repaired initially (6,4)
58 Cry for retaliations? (8)

DOWN
2 Central Roadways worker upset a nerd (5)
3 Holiday centre’s overhead (3)
4 Succulent uncooked seafood has ingredients for starters (5)
5 Substance employed against liquid accumulation near tiny openings (7)
6 Earth's crop regularly turns the colour of earth (5)
7 Celebrating former customs in German capital (9)
8 Say hello to Actress Stark in the form of A verse of this kind (5)
9 No French authority allows points to a student if not associated with a sect (3-14)
10 Three points on getting initially two right? That's weird (5)
11 In Spain, what ails lad, perhaps foreign fare? (10)
12 Professional players from N. Scottsville played and lost on TV (8)
17 The Real Housewives, say love Israeli entity's bananas (7,10)
20 Ten-pieced composition! A killer! (9)
21 I had to steer clear of watery infection (3)
22 Humid day a major problem, primarily (4)
24 Spooner's cuckoo country cousin (5)
26 Lists of clues she prepared with daughter (9)
28 Period of "The Ramayana" (3)
32 Refuse deposit (5)
34 Brownie truffles boxes from the South (3)
36 Expose US soldier to exercise when biting cold (10)
37 One having fictitious account! (4)
38 What happened to word of mouth in the country (8)
39 Turbulent priest hid keeper of culture (5,4)
41 Have an obligation to love and marry daughter off (3)
45 Was it said to incite or offer support? (7)
48 Twisted horn trapped Indian animal (5)
50 It can be hurtful receiving a level headed expression of love (5)
51 University patents to protect New Zealand Open (5)
52 Terrible feature of Vienna style (5)
53 Avoid garment king bought for model (5)
56 Seed found in ripe apricots (3)

49A INSTITUTIONALISES(sUIt IT'S ON SALE ISN'T IT)Definition is a bit iffy - "places" but itself won't really work, while "places an order" has the "order" doing double duty as part of definition and part of anind (order for).

55A BLIZZARDS = repeated run of tempest, perhapsLIZ + Z in BARD'S

57A CORNER SHOP = outlet, could also be seen as &litmy = COR + (PHONE'S R)*

After a very long break, feels good to be visiting the blog again - a feeling much enhanced by the bounty on offer! Thanks to all the setters for a brilliant time. The sheer number of clues *does* lead to a bit of repetition in terms of clueing devices, and a few definitions don't quite seem to fit, but that's a small price to pay for the overall quality of the clueing.

16A: Assistant loudly scratches - when he is itching perhaps (11,6) SUBORDINATE, CLAUSE ~ Claws. This one’s to do with grammar.27A: Desire. A hollow desire to have two characters back-to-back in a series? (9) LONG+I+(T U)D…E58A: Cry for retaliations? (8) PAYBACKS. YAP<-36D: Expose US soldier to exercise when biting cold (10) DIS(C)LOSURE*45D: Was it said to incite or offer support? (7) STIRRUP ~ STIR UP

DOWN7 Celebrating former customs in German capital (9) EX/TOLL/IN/G8 Say hello to Actress Stark in the form of A verse of this kind (5) HAI/KU24 Spooner's cuckoo country cousin (5) YOKEL (spooner of KoYel) 26 Lists of clues she prepared with daughter (9) SCHEDULES*ACROSS18 Slipper, perhaps (3) EEL (CD)

As the dead line of 6 PM is over, here are few from my side6A:Correction of Raju's answer: (OPEN)(HANDED)32A:(DE)(A)(F); DE=From French; A=A; F=note; DEAF=Unmoved38A:(P)(RESENT)42A:SIEGE:(ShInE)(GE<)43A:S(-H)OT46A:NASAL: Anno Pending

Thanks Colonel for running the grid and to the regulars at the blog for solving. As mentioned in the prelude, it was a group effort involving 32 contributors /members of 1ACross each of whom set clues for 2 words in this grid. The entire grid from start to finish was completed over 4 days and was done to commemorate the completion of the 300th themed game at 1ACross.

Thanks to the seasoned solvers and setters for your kind comments on the clues. A number of clues were set by contributors who are setting for a grid for the first time. Quite a few were set by seasoned setters although they don't yet set for publications. We also had some clues contributed by seasoned setters who have published several puzzles. Hope you all enjoyed it. if possible, do leave comments - picking which your top 5 clues were and any other suggestions you might have about this grid.

Sowmya:Great work!compiling all clues into a jumbo grid requires lot of hard work & skill...the clue writers are all now seasoned ones..the clues are perfect..especially the long ones...the shorter ones were easier..

Thanks,MB and Vasant. Mea Culpa ! My bad. I usually fill in my quota and the others later during the day. Today, I 'hurried up slowly' a bit and I was too open minded than open- handed. I check the final entries by 11 pm or so.

Kudos and kudos to the group of compilers , Sowmaya. I liked the longer 7 letters clues that reminded me of the Times of London Jumbos.I know that during the process three letter words become inevitable. I can say that all the clues were equally good and hence they are allmuy favourites ant just five only !

I will try to be member of the i across group but I'm so strapped for time with finishing my collections pending to be filled in . They have now become a heap and my wife has started teasing me as a paper paithiyam !